true friendship studies in john’s gospel john 15:13-15
TRANSCRIPT
TRUE FRIENDSHIP
Studies in John’s Gospel
John 15:13-15
He should not be our friend!
• We have nothing in common
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8 ESV)
…among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body
and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he
loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—
by grace you have been saved—(Eph. 2:3-5 ESV)
He should not be our friend!
• We have nothing in common
• We despise his confidence
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot
the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has
outraged the Spirit of grace?
(Hebrews 10:29 ESV)
What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow,
after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
(2 Peter 2:22 ESV)
He should not be our friend!
• We have nothing in common
• We despise his confidence
• We assist his enemies
Be angry and do not sin; do not
let the sun go down on your
anger, and give no opportunity to the
devil.
(Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)
He should not be our friend!
• We have nothing in common
• We despise his confidence
• We assist his enemies
• We are unappreciative
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:57-58 ESV)
Are we
• Seizing the
victory?
• Rejoicing?
• Abounding?
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit
and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to
you. (John 15:16 ESV)
…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy
and blameless before him. In love
(Ephesians 1:4 ESV)
Real Friendship…
• Is a two way relationship
The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with
him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he
cannot deny himself.
(2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV)
Faithful…
• Worship
• Giving
• Communion
• Daily
Real Friendship…
• Is a two way relationship
• Is a type of oneness
…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21 ESV)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1 ESV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not
your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But
because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. (John 16:5-6 ESV)
Real Friendship…
• Is a two way relationship
• Is a type of oneness
• Has sadness in separation
Behold, the LORD's hand is not
shortened, that it cannot save, or his
ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your
iniquities have made a separation between
you and your God,and your sins
have hidden his face from you so that he
does not hear.
(Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV)
And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.
(1 Corinthians 5:2 ESV)
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one
takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have
authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
dishonor for the name. (Acts 5:41 ESV)
Real Friendship…
• Is a two way relationship
• Is a type of oneness
• Has sadness in separation
• Shows willingness to sacrifice
Classes, home studies, visitingMoney, feelings, opinions
Real Friendship…• Is a two way relationship
• Is a type of oneness
• Has sadness in separation
• Shows willingness to sacrifice
• Has power to improve self
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
(Proverbs 27:6 ESV)
Friends help us because…
• Friends influence us
• Friends set examples
for each other
• Friends say what’s
needed
You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call
you servants, for the servant does not know
what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I
have heard from my Father I have made
known to you.
(John 15:14-15 ESV)
Are we putting any effort into
this friendship?